Apparatus and method for inputting measurements into a software product to construct software models of architectural structures

ABSTRACT

A method for creating a three dimensional rendering of an architectural structure includes the measuring of spans of the structure using a laser measuring device which is communicatively coupled to a logic device capable of executing instruction embodied in architectural rendering software. The measurement data for the spans is transmitted directly into at least one structural measurement fields associated with the architectural rendering software. A three dimensional rendering of the architectural structure is then displayed by the architectural rendering software using the mapped measurement data.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/691,096 filed Oct. 22, 2003, which is incorporated herein in itsentirety by this reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the creation of scaled computer modelsand more particularly to an apparatus and method of inputtingmeasurements of a physical structure into a computer modeling softwarepackage.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, measuring existing buildings for the purpose of creatingas-builts or CAD files has been done using a measuring tape (or similarmeasuring device) and physically drawing a floor-plan on paper. Ifneeded, the drawing was then re-created in a CAD software program. Theprocess is slow and difficult to ensure accuracy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method forutilizing a laser measuring device and a parametric Computer AidedDesign (CAD) software program to construct a 3-dimensional architecturalmodel/file in real time. According to the invention, a measuring deviceis used to measure architectural structures, such as, walls, windows,doors and the like, and the measurements are automatically input intothe CAD software for construction of the architectural model.

When a measurement is taken, the software of the present invention (alsoreferred to as middleware, as in the software interfacing between themeasuring device and CAD software) interprets the data that isdesignated by the user to be a wall, window, door, etc . . . , or ameasurement. The middleware then instructs the CAD Software to buildthis structure thus creating a wall, window, door, etc. within thesoftware. It is therefore possible to construct rooms, floors, housesand the like in 2 Dimensions (2-D) and 3 Dimensions (3-D) by utilizingthe measuring device, middleware and CAD software. This is a vastimprovement on previous methods that are known in the art, whichinclude, for example:

-   -   1) A user would measure an architectural feature and manually        add the feature and measurements into the CAD software.    -   2) A user would measure using a laser or sonar device and        automatically add a 2D only feature into a CAD software. This        method would not be building 3D, parametric objects, but rather        simple structures such as lines that are labeled as objects.

This middleware allow the measurements to be directly input into the CADsoftware eliminating a laborious manual step that could result in humanerror and drastically reduce the time it takes a user to build a modelinside a CAD software product.

Additionally, it drastically reduces the amount of training it wouldtake for an individual to build a 2-D or 3-D model on a CAD softwareproduct.

The middleware could be designed for a user to utilize a dialog boxdesigned to create a particular architectural feature, such as a wall.The user then could use a measuring device, such as a laser device, toautomatically populate this dialog box that is specific to anarchitectural feature. For instance, in the case of wall and measuringin three dimensions (3-D), the user could measure the length of the walland this measurement would populate the “length” requirement in theDialog Box. The process would be similar for all other measurements.When the measurements were complete for the particular feature the usercould then instruct the middleware, through a keystroke or otheroperation, to build that particular feature with the measurements thatwere just taken.

This middleware could also used be used in conjunction with measurementstaken by a manual process to speed the process of building a model witha CAD software program. Manual measurements could be input intoappropriate dialog boxes, which would interface with the CAD software tocreate the appropriate architectural model.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows samples of the apparatus according to four embodiments ofthe present invention. The first embodiment shows the laser measuringdevice connected to a laptop or PC via a cable. The second embodimentshows the laser measuring device connected to a laptop or PC via awireless data connection. The third embodiment shows the laser measuringdevice connected to a PDA or handheld computing device via cable. Thefourth embodiment shows the laser measuring device connected to a PDA orhandheld computing device via wireless connection.

FIG. 2 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the main Eflection dialog box.

FIG. 3 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Add Wall dialog box.

FIG. 4 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Add Window dialog box.

FIG. 5 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Add Door dialog box.

FIG. 6 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Add Wall Columns dialog box.

FIG. 7 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Add Quick Room dialog box.

FIG. 8 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Add Stairs dialog box.

FIG. 9 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Add Fixture dialog box.

FIG. 10 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Add Furniture dialog box.

FIG. 11 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Add Polyline Box dialog box.

FIG. 12 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Add Curved Wall dialog box.

FIG. 13 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Custom Points dialog box.

FIG. 14 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Custom Points dialog box.

FIG. 15 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Custom Points dialog box.

FIG. 16 shows the process flow of the sample user interface screens ofan embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows the apparatus according to one embodiment of the presentinvention. A computer (1) contains a CAD software program (2) as knownin the art, such as AUTOCAD™ or <other>, for example. In addition, thecomputer contains the middleware (3) of the present invention. Ameasuring device (4), such as a Leica DISTO™ handheld laser measuringdevice, is connected to the computer (1) and is used to inputmeasurements directly into the computer (1) without the need formanually inputting data. The measuring device (4) could be connected byelectrical cable (5), or alternatively, could be a wireless device thattransmits signals to the computer via infrared, radio, or other wirelesssignal transmissions as are known in the art.

FIG. 2 shows a sample user interface screen (10) of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Main Dialog box, from which most of theinvention's functionality can be initiated. When the buttons (11-25) onthe dialog box are either (a) clicked with the mouse cursor, or (b)initiated by entering numeric codes on the keypad of the Leica DISTOhandheld laser measuring device, other dialog boxes are initiated whichprompt and enable the user to enter measurement information via theDISTO and/or the keyboard and/or the mouse. Additionally, there is onefunction for which the logic is programmed into the code for thisparticular dialog box. When the ‘Change Wall Endpoints on new room Start(17)’ function is initiated on the dialog box, the user is able to beginmeasuring a room that is on the opposite side of a wall that has alreadybeen measured (i.e. two rooms that are side-by-side with a shared wall).

FIG. 3 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Add Wall dialog box. This dialog box isinitiated from the Main dialog box and can be initiated by one of twobuttons. If it is initiated by the ‘Create StandAlone Wall (10)’ button,than it places the resulting wall with a beginning point at the origin(0,0,0) inside the AutoCAD file. If it is initiated by the ‘Add NextWall (1)’ button, than it places the resulting wall with a beginningpoint at endpoint of the currently ‘active’ or ‘selected’ wall insidethe AutoCAD file. The dialog box prompts the user to measure certaindimensions of a physical wall using the DISTO, or if measured manuallyusing another measuring device (e.g. measuring tape), to enter themeasurements into the designated fields using the mouse and/or keyboard.The fields are length of the wall from one corner to the oppositecorner; the height of the wall from top to bottom (usually ceiling tofloor), the width or thickness of the wall, the vertical offset of thewall if the bottom of the wall is not the same as the bottom of thestructure currently being measured, and the degrees of the corner anglethat the wall sits with respect to the currently active wall in theAutoCAD file. For example, if walking around a room in a clockwisedirection while measuring, and if the room itself is rectangular andorthogonal, than the user should make four 90 degree turns whilemeasuring.

FIGS. 4 & 5 show sample user interface screens of an embodiment of thepresent invention for both the Add Window dialog box and the Add Doordialog box. The two dialogs use similar logic. The user is prompted tomeasure the distance from the beginning of the active wall to thebeginning of the door or window. Then the user is prompted to measureand enter the height of the door or window, the width from one side tothe other of the door or window, and the sill height of the door orwindow. Then, the user can select from a drop down listbox of a varietyof door and window types for the one that applies most closely to theobject being measured. Further, for a door, the user can enter into thedialog box the side of the door on which the hinge exists (with respectto the room inside which the measurer is currently operating) and whichdirection the door swings. Upon selecting the ‘OK(0)’ button, the dooror window gets added to the active wall in the file.

FIG. 6 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Add Wall Column dialog box. When the userwants to measure a column (or similar object) that is attached to a wall(as opposed to a free-standing column), he uses this dialog box. Thedialog prompts the user to measure the length of the column along thewall (this is the side that is parallel to the active wall), and tomeasure the offsets (the two sides of the column that are perpendicularto the wall). When the user enters the first offset into ‘Offset Side1(2)’, the value of the ‘Offset Side2 (3)’ field is automaticallypopulated with the same value until it is changed by the user. Thisenables time savings if the two offsets of the column are the samemeasurement. The default angle measurement in this dialog box is set at180 degrees.

FIG. 7 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Add Quick Rectangular Room dialog box. Thisdialog is designed to save additional time for the user if he/she ismeasuring side-by-side room (such as offices or classrooms down acorridor). The dialog prompts the user to simply measure a length andwidth of each consecutive side-by-side room, assuming that the room isrectangular, which allows the user to only need to measure two of thefour walls in the room. When ‘OK(8)’ is selected, the entire room iscreated in the AutoCAD file.

FIG. 8 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Add Stairs dialog box. This dialog enables theuser to measure a set of stairs. It prompts the user to measure thelength of the stairwell, the width, the vertical height from the top ofthe top riser to the bottom of the bottom riser, to enter the number ofrisers, to determine the rotation angle from the active wall, the sizeof the lip on the stairs, and to enter the direction of the stairs (upor down) from the active wall.

FIGS. 9 & 10 show sample user interface screens of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Add Fixture dialog box and the Add Furnituredialog box. Both dialogs use similar code and functionality. The dialogboxes allow the user to measure the location of a fixture (appliances,light switches, etc . . . ) or a furnishing object (sofa, chair, etc . .. ) in a room. The dimensions measured are relative to the active wall.The objects are selected from a drop down listbox containing a list ofobjects from a file of pre-created AutoCAD models of fixtures andfurnishings. The user has the option to select which side of the activewall on which the object should be placed in the file.

FIG. 11 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Add Polyline Box dialog box. In AutoCAD files,objects are often represented using a linetype in AutoCAD called apolyline. There are times that users will want to represent something asa polyline in a file. This dialog box enables a user to measure thedimensions of an object as well as its location relative to the activewall and upon selecting ‘OK(8)’, the object is created in the AutoCADfile as a polyline structure. A couple good examples of objects that canoften be represented by a polyline are a wall soffit or a built-inradiator.

FIG. 12 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Add Curved Wall dialog box. This dialogprompts the user to measure the length and the arc of a curved wall. Theuser is prompted to measure certain distances in the room, relative tothe active wall, which are represented by color-coded temporary linesthat appear in the AutoCAD file.

Once the distances are measured, the code uses triangulation formulas todetermine the arc and the endpoints of the curved wall and creates thecurved wall in the AutoCAD file.

FIG. 13 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Custom Points dialog box. This dialog promptsthe user to select a point on the screen to use as reference point formeasurements. Triangulation formulas can then be used to determine thelocation of other points by measuring the distances from the selectedpoint.

FIG. 14 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Custom Points dialog Box. This dialog promptsthe user to take measurement(s) from specifically selected points. Thesedistances can then be used in triangulation formulas to determine thelocation of other points and/or angles which can then be used tocalculate the location and direction of walls or objects.

FIG. 15 shows a sample user interface screen of an embodiment of thepresent invention for the Custom Points dialog box. This dialog promptsthe user to take measurement(s) from specifically selected points. Thesedistances can then be used in triangulation formulas to determine thelocation of other points and/or angles which can then be used tocalculate the location, direction and curvature of a curved wall.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart of the computer screens for creating a computermodel according an embodiment of to the present invention.

Thus, a preferred method of creating a computer model includes thefollowing steps:

-   -   Step 1: The user launches the Eflection software program on a        computing device, such as a laptop, PC, PDA, or similar device.    -   Step 2: The user clicks the “Create StandAlone Wall” button on        the main Eflection dialog box by either (a) using the mouse,        or (b) entering the designated number on the keypad of the laser        measuring device. This launches the “Add Wall” dialog box.    -   Step 3: The user measures the length of a wall using the laser        measuring device and when the measurement is taken, the program        receives the measurement and populates the “length” field with        the measurement. The user advances the cursor to the next field        either using the mouse, keyboard, or by entering the designated        number of the next field into the keypad of the laser measuring        device.    -   Step 4: The user repeats the (above) procedure to measure the        height of the wall.    -   Step 5: The user uses a tape measure (or similar device) to        measure the thickness of the wall, generally at a doorway,        window, or other opening where the thickness is visible. This        measurement is entered into the program using either the        keyboard or the keypad of the laser measuring device.    -   Step 6: The user clicks the “OK” button on the “Add Wall” dialog        box either using the mouse cursor or using the keypad of the        laser.    -   Step 7: The user observes the computer screen to ensure that the        computer generated wall has been created properly.    -   Step 8: The user then moves around the interior of the room in        which he/she currently is operating. As the user encounters        architectural objects (wall, window, door, stairs, etc . . . )        he/she launches the corresponding dialog box from the main        Eflection dialog box and takes measurements to populate each        field in the dialog box (see FIGS. 1-14).    -   Step 9: The user repeats the above steps moving from room to        room throughout the architectural structure until the entire        structure has been measured and a 3D file has been created.

1. A method for forming a virtual model of a three-dimensional space,comprising the steps of: coupling a laser measuring devicecommunicatively to a logic device which includes a display component,wherein the laser measuring device is capable of creating measurementdata by measuring a plurality of spans; receiving a first user inputidentifying at least one structural category, wherein each of the atleast one structural categories determines a plurality of structuralmeasurement fields; receiving measurement data from the laser measuringdevice; mapping uniquely each measurement data to at least one of theplurality of structural measurement fields of the at least onestructural category; forming on the display component a rendition of theidentified structural category based on the measurement data mapped tothe plurality of structural measurement fields; identifying at least onestructural object, wherein the at least one structural object isassociated with the identified at least one structural category, andwherein the identified at least one structural object determines aplurality of object measurement fields; mapping measurement data to atleast one of the plurality of object measurement fields of the at leastone structural object; and modifying the rendition of the identifiedstructural category based on the measurement data mapped to theplurality object measurement fields.
 2. A computer-readable storagemedium tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by alogic device for forming a virtual model of a three-dimensional space,the computer-readable storage medium comprising: program code forcoupling a laser measuring device communicatively to a logic devicehaving a display component, wherein the laser measuring device iscapable of creating measurement data by measuring a plurality of spans;program code for receiving a first user input identifying at least onestructural category, wherein each of the at least one structuralcategories determines a plurality of structural measurement fields;program code for receiving from the laser measuring device measurementdata; program code for mapping uniquely each measurement data to atleast one of the plurality of structural measurement fields of the atleast one structural category; program code for forming on the displaycomponent a rendition of the identified structural category based on themeasurement data mapped to the plurality of structural measurementfields; program code for identifying at least one structural object,wherein the at least one structural object is associated with theidentified at least one structural category, and wherein the identifiedat least one structural object determines a plurality of objectmeasurement fields; program code for mapping measurement data to atleast one of the plurality of object measurement fields of the at leastone structural object; and program code for modifying the rendition ofthe identified structural category based on the measurement data mappedto the plurality object measurement fields.
 3. A method for creating athree dimensional rendering of an architectural structure, comprising:measuring a plurality of spans of the architectural structure using alaser measuring device which determines measurement data for each of theplurality of spans; coupling communicatively the laser measuring deviceto a logic device capable of executing instruction embodied asarchitectural rendering software wherein the logic device is associatedwith a display component; mapping the measurement data for each of theplurality of spans directly into at least one of a plurality ofstructural measurement fields associated with the architecturalrendering software; and generating the three dimensional rendering ofthe architectural structure on the display component by thearchitectural rendering software using the measurement data mapped intothe plurality of structural measurement fields.
 4. The method of claim 3further comprising identifying at least one structural category andwherein the at least one structural category determines the plurality ofstructural measurement fields.
 5. The method of claim 4 wherein the atleast on structural category is associated with at least one structuralobject and wherein the at least one structural object determines aplurality of structural object fields.
 6. The method of claim 5 whereinthe measurement data is mapped to at least one of the plurality ofstructural object fields.
 7. The method of claim 6 further comprisingmodifying the three dimensional rendering based on the measurement datamapped to the plurality of object measurement fields.
 8. The method ofclaim 3 wherein the laser measuring device includes a user interfaceenabling a user to identify the at least one structural category and theat least one structural object.
 9. The method of claim 3 wherein thelogic device is communicatively coupled to the laser measuring via awireless transmission.
 10. The method of claim 3 wherein the logicdevice is communicatively coupled to the laser measuring via a network.